Git vs Timebook — Understanding the Difference
Timebook isn't trying to replace Git. It's a different tool for a different problem. Here's how they compare and when to use each.
The Core Difference
Git
Manual version control — You decide when to save (commit) and what message to include.
- ✓ Full control over history
- ✓ Collaboration features
- ✓ Branching & merging
- ✗ Requires discipline
- ✗ Easy to forget commits
- ✗ Lost work between commits
Timebook
Automatic snapshots — Saves your work every 5 minutes without any action from you.
- ✓ Zero mental overhead — set it and forget it
- ✓ Never lose uncommitted work
- ✓ Perfect for solo developers
- ✓ No learning curve — works instantly
- ✓ Beautiful web interface
- ✓ One-click restore for files or entire project
Key Comparisons
| Feature | Git | Timebook |
|---|---|---|
| Snapshots | Manual (git commit) | Automatic (every 5 min) |
| Setup | git init | timebook link |
| View History | Command line (git log) | Web dashboard |
| Rollback | git reset/revert | One-click restore |
| Collaboration | Yes (push/pull) | No (personal use) |
| Branches | Yes | No |
| Captures uncommitted work | No | Yes |
| Learning Curve | Steep - requires Git knowledge | None - works immediately |
| Best for | Team collaboration | Solo developers, AI-assisted coding |
When to Use Git
- You're working on a team and need to collaborate
- You want meaningful commit messages and curated history
- You need branching for features or releases
- You're building production software with code review processes
When to Use Timebook
- You're a solo developer working on personal projects
- You don't need to share your project with a team
- You want automatic backups without learning Git commands
- You're using AI tools like Cursor, Copilot, Claude, or any code editor
- You need to recover work from hours or days ago (even if uncommitted)
- You want a beautiful web interface to browse your code history
- You want one-click rollback without complex Git commands
- You're building anything from quick prototypes to production apps
💡 Pro Tip: Use Both
Many developers use Timebook for continuous safety and Git for important milestones. Timebook captures everything automatically, while Git lets you mark significant changes with proper commit messages. They complement each other perfectly.
Made for Solo Developers
If you don't need team collaboration, Timebook is simpler, faster, and more intuitive than Git. No learning curve, no complex commands, no manual commits. Just install it once and forget about it — your code is automatically protected every 5 minutes.
Whether you're building a quick prototype or shipping a production app, Timebook gives you peace of mind. Browse your entire code history in a beautiful web interface, see exactly what changed, and restore any version with one click.
Think of Timebook as your personal time machine for code — perfect for solo developers who want safety without complexity.